HOLD ONTO SUMMER!
These breathtaking beaches a great getaway after Labor Day
Labor Day marks the unofficial end of summer — but let’s rebrand that, and make it the beginning of beach time. Because one of the great things about Labor Day is this: access to more beaches. That’s right: In most cases, those guard shacks and town employees checking for stickers are gone until next June. That means, for a few weeks while the weather often remains “summery” (and even when it’s a bit crisper), we can cruise up, park and soak in some really special beaches — for free.
There are countless beaches to explore during “free access” season up and down the coast of Massachusetts. You can find a fantastic guide to many of them at visit-massachusetts.com/ state/beaches/. We’ve chosen a couple to lure you into making this a beginning, not an end, to more summer fun. Consider these spots for post-Labor Day beach destinations.
Long Beach, Plymouth: Don’t let the semi-rocky front beach area fool you. Long Beach is vast, sandy and one of the most breathtakingly beautiful beaches around. After Labor Day, you can pull into the beach parking lot and set up for an easy day there. Or be adventurous (it’s worth the work!) and head down toward the far end of the beach. In total, you can walk three miles out, where you’ll find dunes, soft clean sand and amazing views of Bug Light, Brown’s Bank and Saquish.
If you have a four-wheel-drive car, you can drive past the parking lot a mile or so, where you’ll see spots to park and get through the breakwater to the beach. The crossover that allows cars on the beach closes as of Labor Day, but you can park pretty far out along the beach on the access road. Drivers of other vehicles should pack smart and walk out. It’s a lovely walk and worth the effort.
Do note: Plan ahead with the tides. Low tide is the ideal time to walk out or back. If the tide does come in during your visit, you may have to walk back on the access road instead of the beach, but no worries — that offers you a beautiful view of Plymouth Harbor and the magnificent homes along Warren Avenue.
Scusset Beach, Sandwich: Scusset Beach might just be the “best all-around” beach out there. After Labor Day, even folks on duty wave you through and welcome you without payment or sticker. Located on the north side of the Cape Cod Canal at the eastern tip (confusing, since it’s part of Sandwich, the rest of which is on the other side of the canal), this beach has history, dunes, amazing sand and a wealth of activity options.
Before it was a beach, Scusset (technically Scusset Beach Reservation) was the site of World War II fortifications (the Panama mounts and battery commander’s station of the two-gun 155 mm battery as well as several magazine “igloos” still remain). Way before that, it was said to be the spot where Myles Standish met Massasoit.
Today, the beach, about a mile and a half long, is sandy and is beautifully secluded. You can park at the large lot abutting the beach, but because you walk up over dunes (over wood boardwalks, the beach is handicap accessible), you tuck down along the Atlantic Ocean and feel like you’re getting away from it all.
The beach also has a 3,000-foot jetty that juts out to the end of the Cape Cod Canal (a popular spot for fishermen and often a great place to see beautiful ships sail by), a one-mile walking trail and a seven-mile paved bike path that takes you to the opposite end of the canal.
Camping spots are available as well — but they aren’t free after Labor Day. For a day trip, it’s a true escape, with more than just beach lounging to fill your day.
There are so many more choices both north of the city and down the Cape. Here’s to Labor Day being the start of free-access beach time.